BuzzNuts and BuzzBolts of Real-Food Nutrition

Archive for May, 2013

Let’s Talk Thyroid

Have you ever pondered your thyroid? From its perch at the front of your throat, this butterfly-lookin’ endocrine gland monitors your body’s metabolism, aka how every single cell creates & uses energy.

Metabolism is often thought of along with weight loss, but it’s also important in temperature regulation, growth/development, immune regulation and digestion… pretty much anything that requires energy, which is everything.

Wow. That’s quite a responsibility.

Luckily, the thyroid doesn’t work alone. It’s intimately connected to your adrenal glands, digestive system and various brainy bits. When one member of the team falters, the others must pick up the slack. And over time, all the teammates can get tired and peter out.

While there are at least 5 reasons why the thyroid can peter out, most doctors only test for one lab value that doesn’t give the whole story. Thyroid health responds well to nutritional changes (especially going gluten-free), but it’s imperative to dig for & treat the root cause. The root cause determines the best treatment, and determines which common treatments could actually be harmful!

Here’s list of some common signs & symptoms of thyroid dysfunction:

Cold hands/feet

Poor eyebrow growth (outer third is thin)

Swelling under eyes, or of eyelids

Hoarse voice

Fatigue

Hair loss (especially around the face)

Brittle nails

Cold intolerance

Constipation

Depression

Difficulty swallowing

Dry skin

Elevated cholesterol

Hypertension

Fatigue

Inability to concentrate

Poor memory

Infertility

Irritability

Low blood pressure

Menstrual irregularities

Muscle cramps

Muscle weakness

Nervousness

Slower heartbeat

Throat pain

Weight gain

Go ahead. Lovingly pat the front of your neck. Tell your thyroid you’ve got its back. You appreciate it and will do your best to give it what it needs. Give me a call if you need help with figure out what that is!